“You may have heard from her in your local newsletter. Or probably on one of her youtube videos that have stolen the hearts of many aspiring musicians, countless fans and most of america’s eligible bachelors,” The host declared. The audience laughed. The crew listening in the back chuckled to themselves. Sarah, however, had not had the pleasure of hearing the amazing pleasantries, as she stared at her boyfriend, horrified by his words. Her eyes quivered in pain and her lips trembled with hurt.

“Why are you doing this to me now, Nathan?” Sarah asked. Natahan tried to search the floor for the answers. He did not want to look Sarah in her eyes. He had been pained almost as much as she had and he really had not thought about timing. He just thought he owed it to her to know.

“I’m telling you now, Sarah, because after you walk out on that stage, you will never see or hear from me again. I’m going with her to Sydney Australia.” Nathan released her hand and took a step back. “I do not love you anymore Sarah. It’s not you, it’s me. It’s just your career has given me time to notice… we have nothing in common anymore. We both want two different things,” Nathan declared.

“You’re right,” Sarah began, fighting her tears. “Because I want you and you do not want me,” She declared. Nathan eyes darted back to the floor again, trying to mask his emotion. “Seriously Nathan? Her? Right now?”

“Sarah…”

“No you tell me what it is she has that I don’t,” Sarah declared. She grabbed his hands. “These hands, these soft hands and fingers… they’re mines. The thousands of times you have held me in them. This arm, your shoulder, they are my arm and shoulder. The thousands of times I have cried on them. These lips… These pink lips that you love me with, these are my lips. The thousands of times you have eased my anxiety with just a kiss,” Sarah declared touching his hands, arms, shoulder and lips. A tear left Nathans eyes.

“Those tears, those are my tears,” Sarah began. Her eyes began to water as well. She gently wiped the tear from Nathans eye with her thumb. “Those are my tears. You always use them for my jokes. And this… this heart you say you have, the one I’ve listened to, countless times at night just to fall asleep. That heart belongs to me! That’s my heart! I always thought I was the musician, but your heart has this kind of symphony that eases me, consoles me, assures me, loves me,” Sarah declared. ‘What am I to  do without it?” A tear rolled from her face.

“Is my heart not yours? I gave it to you. Are you going to shatter it? Are you going to stomp on my heart Nathan?”

“Your career has your heart Sarah,” Nathan declared.

“You have my heart Nathan!” Sarah declared aloud. She pounded on his chest, trying to get him to understand her pain. But her light pounds had not reached his heart.

“Than prove it,” Nathan declared. “Walk away with me, right now!” the words had seemed to echo. Sarah’s tears had ceased almost immediately. Confusion filled her eyes as she tried to find meaning and purpose to Nathans proposal.

“Nathan… I… There are 72,000 people out there!” Sarah declared. Sarah eyes widened with shock. She could not believe he had given her such an ultimatum.

“And without further Ado, I now present to you, Sarah Windchester!” The announcer declared. It was too late to cancel. Sarah stared at Nathan in disbelief. Nathan stared at her back. He placed his hand out for her to take.

“Come Sarah,” Nathan declared. “If these are your hands, as you say, reach out and claim them and we will walk away together.” The crowd roared at the name of Sarah.

“Sarah?” The announcer called over the microphone. The backstage crew desperately signaled for her to enter the arena, but she ignored their queries. She loved Nathan, but she was afraid, conflicted. She feared she would lose her love to the one other love of her life, music. Sarah lowered her head and began to walk towards the arena.

“You see Sarah,” Nathan began. Sarah turned around, tear in her eye, knowing it was as he said, she would never see him again. “You don’t need my heart. You already have theirs,” Nathan declared pointing towards the audience behind the curtain. They continued to cheer her name as they awaited her presence.

“Nathan, I love you, there’s no doubt about that. I love you through your flaws, I love you through your failures. I even loved you when you loved another, way before you loved me. But my love has returned to me void. I love my music, my career, my fans. If your love can’t follow me past my flaws; if your love isn’t strong enough to wait for me; if your love cant love me, while I love another; than truly… your love was not meant for me.” Sarah wiped her tear and turned around. She placed a fake smile on her face as she walked out on the stage. The fans cheered and screamed. The Arena shook with energy.

Nathan phone began to buzz. He knew what the message was about… It was a message from her, his other “lover”. Nathan closed his eyes as he listened to Sarah’s harmonies lifting the crowd. She was beautiful, Nathan had forgotten how beautiful she was. He felt ashamed and hurt that he had given her such an ultimatum. He did love her, but he wondered if love was enough.

“Where are you? Our plane leaves in half,” The text declared. Nathan smiled. He knew what this feeling was. It was not new, very unfamiliar, but he knew what it was.

“You’re going to have to go without me,” Nathan texted  back.